Contemporary Crafts MA

Why study MA Contemporary Crafts at University College Falmouth?

MA Contemporary Crafts - additional information (1.22 MB)

In the 21st century, contemporary crafts practices are growing in breadth and depth. Increasingly individual products and unique material qualities are valued over uniform, mass production. On Falmouth's postgraduate contemporary crafts course, we encourage a variety of practices, from conceptual work and installation to public and private commissions as well as one-off and small scale batch production.

Whatever you’re into, we want you to question the definition of craft, and challenge and extend boundaries through practice-based research. You will explore the value of craft in the 21st century and our innovative approach combined with access to extensive traditional and digital technologies as well as workshop facilities for work with ceramics, glass, wood, metals, plastics and textiles and new and related materials – means that you will get the very best support available. We also have our own research cluster, Autonomatic (www.autonomatic.org.uk), which is currently exploring digital technologies and developing methods of production closely aligned with the ‘humanity’ of craft practices.

University College Falmouth is working closely with the Design Council on Design of the Times (DOTT) Cornwall; a programme where professional designers work. with stakeholders and communities to tackle social, economic and environmental issues from the bottom up.

Our students and graduates get the chance to work alongside senior design professionals on DOTT projects as part of internships and work placements.

Tell me more about the MA Contemporary Crafts course

This course is all about you. It’s about developing new ways of working through research, driving your own direction and finding your unique place in the design world. Our emphasis on research combined with fresh professional and theoretical perspectives as well as improved technical skills will help you to think about design in new ways.

The MA benefits from a shared delivery of core elements, including Research Methods and Design Context, that are a key part of the course's reflection of the inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary nature of contemporary design practice. Collaboration occurs formally through direct live projects, such as exhibiting at 'That's Design!' as part of the International Milan Design Festival, and informally through discussions and seminars focusing upon directions for individual practice.

From idea conception, to planning and making exciting pieces, you will enhance your design and making skills. Early on in the course we focus on further developing your aptitude for research and analysis, in order to substantiate, and reflect upon, your work.

You will also have the opportunity to boost your existing knowledge, develop new skills and explore both traditional and new technologies. Your skills of creative problem-solving, idea generation and design development will also be advanced to a professional standard. Plus, our hands-on approach means that you will spend plenty of time in the studios and workshops, designing, making and testing your ideas.

Design is the key to sustainable living. We want you to design innovative pieces that consider not only aesthetic and technical issues, but also the environment, market and users plus, your role as a commercial designer within the community. The postgraduate contemporary crafts course explores the processes and theories of production and consumption. Particular emphasis is placed on your ability to demonstrate awareness of other design disciplines and the global interrelationship between designers, manufacturers and markets.

Your research will consider the history and future of design within broad social, political, economic and cultural contexts to develop your understanding of how and why design can help to improve quality of life. Further theoretical studies will deepen your knowledge, generate original ideas, help you critically assess your own and others work, as well as place your work in context.

"For me the MA is about the journey from start to finish and learning from the mistakes or challenges that come up during the design possess. The course has helped me adapt to change and restrictions within my design development, facing challenges and working with them." Hayley Holden, MA Contemporary Crafts

Facilities

The Design Centre benefits from world-class facilities and provides the opportunity to creatively experiment with a range of traditional and digital technologies, processes and materials. We have specialist ceramics and glass equipment, laser cutters, rapid prototyping machines and a five axis milling machine. Just as important are our traditional workshop facilities which you can use for experimentation, modelling and prototyping. There is an ICT teaching suite, specialist software and purpose built studios. Plus you will have the chance to share ideas across disciplines in our communal working areas. MA students have a base room next to the Business and Research Centres. This provides direct access to these facilities, encouraging informal and formal interaction with researchers and business users in the Design Centre.

Course structure

For full-time students this is a 1-year course delivered over 45 weeks and divided into three 15-week Study Blocks. Alternatively you can study the course part-time over 2 years, totalling 90 weeks. All Study Blocks are worth 60 credits with summative tutor assessment at the end of each.

You can choose to exit the course and obtain a recognised postgraduate award once you have completed each one. Having obtained 60 credits you can gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Contemporary Crafts; with 120 a Postgraduate Diploma. You will need to gain 180 credits in order to receive your MA award.

For additional information about Study Blocks, professional practice, assessment, facilities, entry requirements and interview procedures please download the file below:

MAs in Design - additional information (1.32 MB)

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum.

HelpMe Forum: MA Contemporary Crafts

Additional information

2010 Postgraduate Prospectus (4.82 MB)

Funding your study

A Master’s degree represents a significant investment in your future, and you will rightly be concerned about funding. Our student fees & funding section outlines fees for full and part time students and has guides to introduce you to ways of funding your course at Falmouth.

Creative Enterprise Cornwall

Put your skills to use in Cornwall's dynamic business environment on a paid placement project

Creative Enterprise Cornwall is a project offering financial support to postgraduate students who live in Cornwall during their studies. It is run by University College Falmouth and part-funded by the European Social Fund. The aim of the project is to promote graduate opportunities within Cornwall - develop new business skills if you are changing your career, or use the opportunity to strengthen the skills you already have. A maximum of £1250 is available.

The placement project must meet the following criteria:

• It must take place in Cornwall or benefit a Cornish company
• It must meet your course objectives (Course Leader must agree to the placement)
• Must be a minimum of one working week in duration (maximum 3 weeks) and be confirmed by the company

More information about the project can be found here

Career opportunities

The majority of craftspeople are self-employed; our focus on professional practice, support for business start up and links with practitioners is aimed to prepare you for this. Plus, contemporary crafts is a broad discipline, rich in transferable skills and our course prepares you for a diverse range of career options within the creative industries. Today’s creative practice often involves multidisciplinary team work and the environment at our Design Centre will prepare you for this. You will have the opportunity to work designers in other disciplines, leading to potentially stimulating, lucrative and new areas of design practice. Further possible options include teaching and research in related arts fields.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements through the university sector include Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees and HNDs in a related subject, alongside a relevant portfolio of work that explores your previous practice, experience and processes. If you have solid professional industry experience rather than academic achievement, this may be acceptable for entry to study at this level through a process called APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning).

We also require you to submit a single page proposal with your application that outlines what you aim to do, how you aim to do it, and what you aim to achieve. This proposal is not binding; it is just a starting point for discussion and an initial framing of your studies.

MAs in Design Project Proposal form (27.14 KB)

More information about entry requirements and applying for our postgraduate courses can be found here

For informal enquiries about the course, please contact the Course Leader: andrew.harbert@falmouth.ac.uk

For further information about the MA Contemporary Crafts course at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 214366.

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